18.05.06 – By Dan Scog: With so many spectacular fights coming up in the summer months ahead, I’d like to take this quiet before the storm as an opportunity to reflect on something completely different. In the archives of East Side Boxing there is a good article by B.R. Bearden that deals with a few key boxing terms and their origins. It got me thinking..
I’ve always been amazed at the rich literary background that boxing has in terms of being a source of inspiration. The sweet science has been the muse behind some of the most poetic writing ever put to print by the likes of George Plimpton, Norman Mailer, and Joyce Carol Oates just to name a few. So is it any surprise how many boxing terms have become a part of everyday life?
I’d like to try and expand on this notion with an even more detailed look at the common sayings that boxing has produced. Sure, baseball may cover all the bases, has really struck out, and occasionally hit a home run, but boxing is the undisputed champion when it comes to injecting phrases into the public consciousness. I’ve listed everything as alphabetically as possible, grouped into divisions of how much they actually have to do with boxing – some are not as obvious or clear-cut as others. So until next time, I present to you the most complete list of boxing phraseology available:
Definitely from boxing origins:
Down for the count – Finished or facing the end. Said by observers of the sweet science who were certain from “1” that a floored fighter wasn’t going to get up.
Fighting fit – Being in top shape. Boxers generally have to be at peak physical conditions to stay competitive – hence fit enough to fight.
Gloves coming off – Used to indicate that a given argument or dispute is about to get vicious, nasty, or just plain mean-spirited. It’s assumed that “gloves” in this phrase refers to boxing gloves since the boxing gloves can be said to be symbol for what separates an athletic competition from an all-out-brawl.
(Someone you want) in your corner – A person you want to have aiding or supporting you. In boxing having an important team (cut-man, etc.) in your corner is important to having a successful fight, or career for that matter.
On the ropes / Against the ropes – Facing great opposition or difficult circumstances that one is usually struggling against. The general consensus in boxing is that a fighter backed against the ropes is in a bad position and is likely to have the disadvantage in whatever exchange occurs.
Pound for pound – All comparable factors considered, irregardless of size or other factors irrelevant to capability. A fighter’s job is to fight well, not necessarily to be the biggest or have the best haircut. So even though my George Foreman grill can’t compete against an outdoor gas grill, it’s still the best “P4P” grill. Plus it knocks out the fat.
Saved by the bell – To be rescued or otherwise relieved at the last possible minute. There is a widespread misconception that this saying comes from 17th century “safety-coffins” equipped with a bell to prevent (and/or cater to people’s fear of) being buried alive. However, there is absolutely no written record of the phrase until the 1950’s when it was used in a boxing context.
Throw in the towel – To give up, surrender, or even die. From prize-fighter handlers throwing a towel into the boxing ring to signal resignation.
Disputed, but possibly from boxing origins:
Bring home the bacon – To succeed, win, or otherwise achieve a set goal where the rewards would stand as the proverbial “bacon”. Bearden outlined the boxing side of the story as well as I could, but there are plenty of sources claiming that this phrase simply stems from a more traditional breadwinning context, where one would simply strive to feed his or her family.
The Real McCoy – Something or someone that is authentic and not an imitation. This is perhaps the most debated phrase in all of the English language, let alone in boxing phraseology. Again, Bearden outlined the boxing perspective quite well, but other theories plant the root of this phrase anywhere from differentiating between bootleg liquor during the prohibition to an old west family feud in the late 1800’s. No doubt that euro-dance trio The Real McCoy picked their name inspired by the enigma and controversy.
Up to scratch – Used to gauge if something or someone will be satisfactory for the task at hand. I’ve heard arguments for this origination from other athletic competitions, such as foot races, but the general consensus that this term comes from pre-square-circle days. During these times, when a boxing ring was nothing more than lines drawn or “scratched” in the dirt which fighters would step up to, if they were up to scratch, that is.
Definitely NOT from boxing origins:
Dead Ringer / Ringer – A convincing fake or a duplicate, especially one enhanced or handicapped for the purpose of cheating. Despite the associations of fixing, bells ringing, and the actual ring that boxers fight in, this term has no specific ties to boxing. Though it did first gain popularity in relation to sports in the late 1800’s – however, it was a comparison of two baseball players and their similar styles with none of the negative connotations the term usually carries nowadays.
Fall guy – Someone to take the blame for another’s mistake or wrongdoing. Again, although boxing has gotten a bad rep for the fix being in, this is actually from Hollywood slang for a stunt double.
Fight the good fight – Working for an honorable or just cause. This phrase has biblical, not boxing roots. That’s Timothy 6.12, for all of you fighters of faith, gospel gladiators, and Chris Byrd fans.
Learn / show (someone) / know the ropes – Meaning to have, show, or gain an understanding of the basics in a certain field. Believe it or not, this one is from seafaring origins. Crew-run ships to be precise, where the first lesson for new sailors was learning each rope on the ship and the sail that it controlled.
Southpaw – Essentially, an extravagant way to say “left handed”. Although the phrase is now almost universally associated with boxing (fighters who may not be natural lefties adopting southpaw stances, for example) it was actually first used as a baseball term.
The Phrase Finder put it as well as anyone could: “To minimize the handicap of having to squint into the sun, most baseball diamonds were laid out with the direction of pitcher to batter east to west. A left-handed pitcher therefore had his throwing arm on the south side. Slangy newspaper writers shortened that to southpaw.”
Acknowledgements: I owe inspiration for this work to B.R. Bearden whose article is here in the ESB archives:
http://www.boxing247.com/news/bearden0407.php. Of course, the fact that I couldn’t find a comprehensive list of this information anywhere else also played a part. I owe a great deal of thanks for research and fact-checking to both The Phrase Finder (which can be searched at http://www.phrases.org.uk/) and Michael Quinion (whose writing can be found at http://www.worldwidewords.org/). As always, I’m also humbly counting on (or should I say expecting?) the ESB community to correct me if there’s any phrase I left out or any alternative theories I haven’t listed here.